PM hails venue as ‘world-class’

Prime Minister Gaston Browne believes the addition of the conference facilities at
the American University of Antigua will enable Antigua and Barbuda to reach out
to another segment of the tourism market, conference tourism.
Speaking at the end of a tour of the facilities on Friday afternoon accompanied by
members of the Cabinet, the prime minister described the facilities as being of
international standards.
Antigua and Barbuda hosts the Fourth International Conference of Small Island
Developing States (SIDS4) from May 27 to 30 at the newly constructed conference
centre on the campus of the AUA.
“I think we are ready and from all indications, this conference will be an excellent
one where we will be charting the course for resilient prosperity for small island
developing states globally so we are very happy to be serving as hosts,” Browne
stated.
He thanked President Neil Simon of AUA for making available to Antigua and
Barbuda the facilities of the university, to include the conference centre, several
meeting rooms and other amenities.
“I want to thank AUA for constructing this beautiful conference facility. It is a
great part of the country’s infrastructure and will now position Antigua and
Barbuda to pursue conferences. It has already been made public that there will be a
hotel constructed here closer to Jabberwock Beach which will likely be a 100-room
hotel. Then, we will be encouraging the Shoul Family to build out some
condominium units on the lands west of the facility thus creating its own eco-
system with shops, restaurants and other amenities,” Browne remarked.
The idea, according to the prime minister, is for the conference centre to spark the
construction of other facilities including accommodation and shops to strengthen
Antigua and Barbuda’s position as an attractive destination not just for vacation,
but to host/attend conferences as well.